The Australian politics thread

[Mister Wright]

I really like Kevin Rudd. Not only the fact that he's a QLDer but he seems like a regular guy, but a really educated one (not that I'm saying regular people can't be educated).

Maybe the reason why I like Rudd so much is because I despise Joe Hockey or whatever his name is and Rudd's always up against him on Sunrise.

[Mr Casson]

Haha Rudd and Hockey's childish spats must be ratings gold.

[Mister Wright]

Originally Posted by Mr Casson

Haha Rudd and Hockey's childish spats must be ratings gold.

Classic stuff. Hoping they bring out a DVD for Christmas.

[age_master]

Originally Posted by Mister Wright

I really like Kevin Rudd. Not only the fact that he's a QLDer but he seems like a regular guy, but a really educated one (not that I'm saying regular people can't be educated).

You do realise that Beazley was a Rhodes scholar, so hes more educated then Rudd...

If Rudd were to be elected Labor leader i would vote Libs next election.

[Slow Love™]

Just on career terms, if I was Rudd or Gillard, I'm not sure I would want the poisoned chalice just yet. I'm still very far away from believing that Labor is in with a chance next election, and the current primary vote figure in the polls is around 37%, which is absolutely piss poor.

I had thought that the gameplan was to watch Beazley ride the party to this loss, and then execute the changeover when he resigns - which ought to (thank god) shut up his roosters once and for all. The risk there is that he will send Labor further into the wilderness, but I actually expect that they'll claw back some seats just on the IR changes alone. The majority is just too significant for Labor to win this time around, even with a better leader than Beazley, IMO. I doubt that either Gillard or Rudd would be that keen to take over at this point, and if they were to challenge, Beazley's allies would just be leaking crap and looking to destabilise all the way to the election. Better for them to get off to a fresh start when some of these goons accept that the Beaz is a loser.

[Slow Love™]

Originally Posted by age_master

You do realise that Beazley was a Rhodes scholar, so hes more educated then Rudd...

If Rudd were to be elected Labor leader i would vote Libs next election.

You were planning on voting for Labor?

[pasag]

And isn't Rudd a stout Christian? Just saying, seems weird.

[Craig]

What do people make of Costello and Abbott as potential PMs?

Costello is too smug and arrogrant for the public IMO (not saying he is like that in real life but that is how he comes across) and Abbott is very much Catholic as you are going to get (short of being an Archbishop or Priest I guess) but apparently he is quite a nice guy (I know people who are friends of him and other people I know have met him and say the same thing) in person so I don't know if that will mean anything, I guess it does in all probability.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by pasag

And isn't Rudd a stout Christian? Just saying, seems weird.

I guess his main strength would his relationship with the Asian countries (like China) since he is well school and in that area, was a diplomat in China (IIRC) and can speak fluent Chinese.

[Slow Love™]

Originally Posted by pasag

And isn't Rudd a stout Christian? Just saying, seems weird.

He's a catholic. I'm pretty sure Age is a protestant. They're not always happy bedfellows.

[Mr Casson]

Originally Posted by Craig

What do people make of Costello and Abbott as potential PMs?

Costello is too smug and arrogrant for the public IMO (not saying he is like that in real life but that is how he comes across) and Abbott is very much Catholic as you are going to get (short of being an Archbishop or Priest I guess) but apparently he is quite a nice guy (I know people who are friends of him and other people I know have met him and say the same thing) in person so I don't know if that will mean anything, I guess it does in all probability.

I'm actually warming to Costello. It's not like I'm a huge fan, but he's a bad grape in a bucket of poison berries.

[pasag]

Costello is a gun. I don't think he is smug and arrogrant, I love watching him explain economics as well (sounds so dorky, I know). He won't ever be PM though, just not popular enough. Smart bloke as well, trust the country in his hands and I don't think he is as conservative as people make him out to be. He's done a really good job as treasurer imo and that should be able to translate into leading the country (in theory).

Although it is hard to know his stance on certain issues as he will often just take the party line, or whatever Howard tells 'em to think and defend that staunchly. Costello Vs Rudd would be a dream election.

[pasag]

Originally Posted by Slow Love™

He's a catholic. I'm pretty sure Age is a protestant. They're not always happy bedfellows.

Fair enough. Don't know much about that tbh.

[Mister Wright]

Costello is about the only Liberal politician I like, strange I know...

[Slow Love™]

Originally Posted by Craig

What do people make of Costello and Abbott as potential PMs?

Costello is too smug and arrogrant for the public IMO (not saying he is like that in real life but that is how he comes across) and Abbott is very much Catholic as you are going to get (short of being an Archbishop or Priest I guess) but apparently he is quite a nice guy (I know people who are friends of him and other people I know have met him and say the same thing) in person so I don't know if that will mean anything, I guess it does in all probability.

Interesting question that underlines some of the pragmatism in politics. IMO Costello's a toad and a fraud, who's happy to occupy whatever package will make him go down best. If he has to appeal to the worst in people, he'll do it. If he sniffs something different in the wind, he'll be that, too. On the other hand, Abbott's fairly open and honest in his convictions. I've long thought that Abbott is more Howard's favorite than Costello is, but some of Abbott's positions on health issues have probably placed him at odds with a fair section of the party, so his leadership aspirations have been largely curtailed for the time being.

Personally, I think Abbott is a far more effective politician than Costello, and articulates his ideas and opinions extremely well. In fact, he writes much better op-eds than the majority of professional conservative commentators.

Having said that, if my choices were down to these men only, I'd prefer Costello. Basically, Abbott simply represents too much of what I oppose. In the long run though, we'll probably find our choices are different to what we expected, post Howard.